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    "localId": "575017346",
    "label": "Same Sex Benefits",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Same Sex Benefits",
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        "Elizabeth (Julian) Potter's files"
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{
    "seq": 21,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/clinton/wjc-opl/26437308/26437308-20230849S-026-005-2025/26437308-20230849S-026-005-2025-021.jpg",
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    "ocrText": "one's spouse in a hospital would not be harmed if similar rights were extended to committed\npartners. Similarly, post-marital support requirements would not be diminished for a married\ncouple if such responsibilities were also applicable to committed partners who terminate their\nrelationship.\nAlthough the cumulative effect of extending benefits and responsibilities currently enjoyed by\nmarried families may result in a net tax loss to the State, the Commission is unaware of any\nreputable study which has been done to evaluate this potential liability, and believes it to be\nsmall, given the relatively small number of individuals to whom the extension of committed\nrelationship benefits would apply.\nFurthermore, human sexual orientation is a complex characteristic. For whatever reason - either\nas a result of genetics, environment, early childhood development, or a combination of factors -\na minority of individuals are homosexual. The Commission is aware of no credible evidence to\nsuggest that extending benefits to committed partners will sway anyone to become homosexual\nor to choose a same-sex relationship over a heterosexual relationship.\nb. Committed relationships provide benefits to society.\nThe Commission is convinced that committed relationships provide valuable benefits to society -\nbenefits that are similar to those provided by marriages.\nOpponents of extending rights to persons in committed relationships asserted that society derives\nno benefits from these relationships. In support of this argument, however, they usually pointed\nto characteristics of transient or non-monogamous relationships rather than committed long-term\nrelationships.\nThe Commission is persuaded that committed relationships provide many tangible benefits, and\nthat society is strengthened by committed relationships. These benefits include the stability and\nsupport of individuals and dependents in long-term relationships and the avoidance of public\nassistance if partners are recognized and able to care for their family members. These benefits\nfurther include improved public health, economic stability, job performance, safety, child\nrearing, social stability and cultural contributions. These are of significant importance and value\nto society, and warrant legal support.\nThrough State acknowledgement of committed relationships and the public notice that is inherent\nwith committed partners asserting the responsibilities and benefits thus expected, the community\nbenefits in a subtle, probably immeasurable, but profound way - what one of the Commission\nmembers referred to as \"the neighborhood watch\" factor. If committed relationships were\nrecognized through State law, committed partners would be more likely to become active\nparticipants in the civic responsibilities of community - serving on the local neighborhood\nassociation, paying attention to a neighbor's home, becoming more involved in the social fabric\nof one's community.\nII-15"
}